FOR BOYS OF FROM NINE TO TWELVE.
Maurice Pomeroy is an admirable account of life at a preparatory school. There is some adventure, but the story depends rather for its interest upon the naturalness and accuracy of its details. Prospective candidates for preparatory schools, who want to know what their next few years will be like, will find their answer here. Nimble-Legs, translated from the Italian, is the record of a twelve-year-old Sicilian boy who could run so fast that he was entrusted with secret messages for Garibaldi, and won a medal from him. There is plenty of Colour in the tale, and Italy's fight for freedom is described in a way that young readers will understand. Robin Hood. and his Merry Men, with its forty-eight beautiful colour plates is one of the most attractive volumes before us. The story ot the outlaw of Sherwood Forest is retold by Mr. Vivian picturesquely and with great charm, largely in dialogue form. Five Hundred Pounds Reward will appeal strongly to youngsters who love the open road. It is the autobiographical narrative of an orphan-boy who, being unhappy with the aunt who has adopted him, runs away from " home," and has all manner of adventures with bulls, gipsies, and so forth. Incidentally, he overhears a secret of great importance between a Colonel and a Squire, and the sequel to his eavesdropping gives a connecting thread of excitement to the many good scenes of wayfaring life. The Hunted _Piecaninnie$ are three young savages of the Australian Bush,
with whom some English boys, sons of pioneers, temporarily throw in their lot. Incident is not lacking ; but the book is picturesque rather than thrilling, and gives the impression of being a slightly coloured version of experiences of theauthor's own youth.
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